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Schmidt vows Ireland will deliver 'edge of the seat' entertainment against England

Joe Schmidt has pledged Ireland will provide “edge of the seat” entertainment in Saturday’s Six Nations opener, dismissing England’s boring jibes as irrelevant.

England defence coach John Mitchell claimed Ireland will try to bore the game in cranking up the mind games ahead of the Dublin encounter.

Ireland head coach Schmidt stopped short of accusing England of disrespect, instead once again laughing off what he has previously branded verbal “grenades” from head coach Eddie Jones and his coaching team.

England boss Jones has claimed Johnny Sexton has the “bat phone to the referee” in suggesting Ireland receive preferential treatment from officials: but as when dismissing that, Schmidt has again shrugged off another barb.

“People have different approaches but I think it’s incredibly important to respect your opponents, and to acknowledge what abilities they bring to the game,” said Schmidt.

“Momentum is massive,” Jones said. “You want to get out of the blocks and get your foot in the door.

“We are not really focusing on records. Our focus is performance, and with good performances you usually get results.

“We are not going to focus on what could be. We know what we have to do.

“Our ninth win was last year. This international period is a new year.

“We are very conscious that we have to maintain momentum and performance, and that will get us results.

“We are not hanging our hats on records. We will be reminded of the nine wins, but it’s a massive task on Friday.

“It’s probably the biggest pack they (France) could have picked. We are fully aware of the strength they have and the way they are likely to play with a pack that drive a lot, and with ball-players behind.”

How Wales fare against a huge French pack – which has a combined weight of just over 150 stones and is one of the biggest fielded in Six Nations history – will be pivotal to the contest.

And Wales head coach Warren Gatland added: “The way we’ve tended to play against France is keep the ball on the park and not be afraid to kick long and try and find a bit of grass.

“I think they will kick a lot of ball out to try and slow the game down and play a lot off (Morgan) Parra at nine.

“There is no doubt they will have a big go at our scrum and try to maul us off the park. They were pretty effective in the autumn in that area.

“We’ve got to be on our mettle, and – from a defensive point of view – it’s paramount our line-speed and collisions are good.

“We’ve been working on that and talking about stopping their forward momentum which they can create from their pack.”

A key part of Wales’ forward effort will be hooker Ken Owens, who sets a new cap record for his country in that position when he makes his 61st appearance on Friday.

“He is a great bloke to have in the side,” Gatland said. “He is a great team man and incredibly well respected and well liked by the coaches and the staff.

“He puts his body on the line. He’s playing some great rugby at the moment, and it will be great for him to have a good year.

“He deserves to have the accolade of being Wales’ most-capped hooker. He is an outstanding person on and off the field, a great leader, and I can’t speak more highly of him.”